Using tinctures in a salve

I'm hoping someone can help me out here, because my Google-fu has failed me miserably. My father broke his back in four places recently (!)--he's going to be fine, no paralysis or damage to the spinal cord or neck, thank gods--and I'd like to make him a good bone-healing salve to apply to the area. I already have comfrey to make a base oil, and I also have a tincture of boneset that I'd like to add, for obvious reasons. But the tincture is alcohol, which I'm guessing will not incorporate well. Any suggestions for how I should go about adding the tincture? Or would it be better to just go and get some dried boneset herb and make an oil infusion to add instead?

What's the alcohol percentage? If it is 95% alcohol, then it is not a problem to add some to a wax or oil base. If it's more, you can risk growing botulism when you add it to the oil or wax, since the droplets will be sealed from air. It shouldn't matter too much for a salve, but you would have to be careful that the person had no cuts or scratches where the salve was applied; otherwise, they might get wound botulism. Personally, I would warm macerate the herb in oil, strain, and use that. I have found that a rice cooker on warm is great for doing that. Just be sure to keep inside condensation wiped off or leave the lid off. A lidded jar in the sun works good this time of year too.

I'm hoping someone can help me out here, because my Google-fu has failed me miserably. My father broke his back in four places recently (!)--he's going to be fine, no paralysis or damage to the spinal cord or neck, thank gods--and I'd like to make him a good bone-healing salve to apply to the area. I already have comfrey to make a base oil, and I also have a tincture of boneset that I'd like to add, for obvious reasons. But the tincture is alcohol, which I'm guessing will not incorporate well. Any suggestions for how I should go about adding the tincture? Or would it be better to just go and get some dried boneset herb and make an oil infusion to add instead?

All help appreciated--thanks!

Robyn M.

Boneset and comfrey externally will do nothing for broken bones. If you want to give him herbs to heal faster, consider arnica salve externally and nettles and borrage internally as tea (one handful of herbs per liter). Add some peppermint to make it taste good. The nettles and borrage contain a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals and protein in readily assimilable form. Additionally the nettles contains soluble silica which is incorporated into the collagen matrix of healing tissues and makes them stronger and more flexible.